3.3
Quality3.6
Difficulty50%
Would Retake127
Reviews50%
Would Retake
127
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
45
4
20
3
21
2
24
1
17
What Students Say
“I would NOT take his class again and recommend AVOIDING HIM”
112 - 2.0 rating“Very odd teaching style”
MTH110 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
32%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.99 avg changeRatings by Course
203
5.0
(1)MTH341431
5.0
(1)MTH203
5.0
(1)MATH112
5.0
(1)MATH132
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
201
5.0
MTH302
5.0
CIS231
5.0
MATH201
4.3
CALC1
4.3
Reviews (127)
shows great enthusiasm, i enjoy his teaching
Tries to make sure everyone understands the material
new prof. a little nerdy and overly enthusiastic, but is friendly and helpful.
Very enthusiastic. Hard final, but he's helpful and offer extra credit
Very nice guy/good prf. but sometimes moves fast. Take him
moves fast, answers questions well
He's a good prof and makes sure you know the stuff.
Makes you use, the dustiest part of your brain, I like that. Take him
Will is a great teacher. Wants you to learn. Very helpful.
Will is a wonderful professor!
Will is a nice guy, but he likes math a bit much.
likes problems done his way but still a good prof
Will is friendly. Lots of homework, though. Lots of group work
Will is a really nice guy, funny, and knows his stuff. Excellent calc professor
Excellent Calculus Teacher!!! I hate math, but I loved taking his class!
Dumbest class ive ever had
very good at teaching calc, lots of time to help outside class, nice guy
Great teacher. Wants his students to learn the subject. Very Helpful.
Class was incredibly dumb and Will taught it pretty bad too
very good professor, he knows his stuff and wants his students to do good
HARD class, Will makes it harder. Hints not helpful. Available out of class, nice.
It is a challenging course but if you're willing to ask for help he will help you.
Challenging course, but Will is very willing to help outside of class. His hints are confusing at times.
Plan on spending time in his office, cause his assignments are confusing and time consuming. Nice person, but doesn't always understand how students work.
excellant prof, interesting class, very helpful
excellent math professor, puts lots of effort and enthusiasm into his lessons, very helpful outside of class and an extremely fair grader, wants students to do well in his class
Will is an excellent prof. if you really want to learn calc. take him, very helpful, willing to answer all questions.
Very interesting and fun in class. Makes you think and always willing to help outside of class. Will help you with the problem until you solve it.
he is horrible. wont help at all, doesn't understand student needs.
good teacher, but hard class
He tries to be helpful but does not like it if you do not get it right away. Warning to all calc takers if you do not know how to write/explaine your work. Look out for the Problems Of the Fortnight(timeconsuming)
Has great passion for his subject and provides practical suggestions. I had him last year and am now teaching high school math. I've used several of his ideas.
YEAH , I apologize to all the people that waste time in this guys class! he's a real nice guy, but he's a genious, and can't teach. Half the class dropped, another 8 failed! fortnight problems and exams will kill you!
Lots of work for this class and time consuming. Always willing to help sudents until you understand. If you study you will learn calc very well. He's a great teacher.
Interesting class! Can tell he puts a lot of work into his lectures. Lots of work, start homework early, but completely passable.
Gives a lot of time consuming homework but is very willing to help you with it outside of class. He gives group work to really help reinforce the material. A bit difficult with grading homework, but a great teacher overall!
willing to help with anything, at anytime.
great guy. will help you with anything anytime. It's a lot o work but if you stay ontop of things you will be fine.
The first 4 letters of his last name say it all. He knows Calculus but can't convey the information to students. If you have a Calc. background you might be alright, but if this is your first taste of Calc. I would suggest changing Profs.
will knows a lot about math, but is incompetent as a teacher. hardest grader of homework i've ever known. super paranoid about group work/helping classmates. doesn't answer questions. try to avoid this professor at all costs.
Wierd guy...knows a lot about Math and loves not telling you the answer. Grades EVERYTHING really hard and is crazy about plagarism...Nice guy, but difficult to learn from. If you already know a lot of Calculus you will be fine, but otherwise don't take this class from him.
Will is a great prof and very helpful. He's willing to put in the time, if you are willing to put though into your work. It really helps you learn how to become clear in the subject of Caculus. I wish he was teaching my Calc 2!!
he isn't a good teacher at all. unless you know everything beforehand, don't take will's class. he teaches concepts, doesn't give examples or explain much then expects you to tackle advanced problems. don't think AP Calculus HS classes will help. His happy disposition does nothing but annoy.
Will was a great professor. Wasn't easy, but very passable. He will help you whenever you need it so use his office hours. Never tells you the answer because he wants you to find it on your own, but he will point you in the right direction every time. Study for tests though. They can be tough.
After taking this class I could set up problems great, but solving was another issue. His entire teaching strategy consists of teaching you the first steps, then sending you to groups to figure out the rest on your own.
so not hot but a good prof
I loved math before this class. I was planning on being a math major actually, and he ruined that. No matter how hard I studied I could not grasp any of it. I went to his office hours and all we managed to accomplish was...NOTHING! The tests were crazy, not to mention the crazy long final. And the projects? Horrible! Super hard grader too.
You have to get used to him and his teaching techniques the first week then he's a really good teacher.
Not a fun class, and the professor doesn't help.
I understood ap calc in high school, but his way of going about things made it very difficult at times to succeed in this class. don't bother going to his office, he acts willing to help on the surface, but he never answered a single question I brought to him. Nice guy, but a very poor teacher.
pretty hard but you learn a lot dot your i's and cross your t's
his class was my worst classroom experience ever. find a different professor if you have to take calculus!
At the beginning it is very stressful because he throws a bunch at us with out going over it in class (stuff outside the class topics). Very hard tests. A tough teaching style. He's a great guy, very kind and thoughtful. Many struggle with his teaching style though
No Comments
Great professor! However, he sets the bar VERY high and expects a lot. He grades tough on homework assignments, which will take your grade down. The material is not hard, but meeting his expectations is a struggle.
Not even worth it!!!
Very odd teaching style. Makes you explain everything and show every little detail on homework. Tests are kind difficult, you just have to get used to his style, he explained things clearly though.
good:1. willing to help, 2. speaks clear. 3. enthusiastic. bad:64%-below=F, i got a 60% in the class. i showed interest in wanting to learn and understand and showed up to class every day, and went to his office hours. He showed no merciful sympathy for me at all. So he gets a bad grade in my book
Will is a great teacher for calculus especially if you've never had it before. His teaching style is slightly unorthodox, since it focuses on group work for every class session. However, it's a really effective way to study for a very demanding class. Overall, I highly recommend him.
I learned the most I have ever have in a Math class, I tried hard and showed up to every class. My over all grade was an F at 61 percent. This guy is extremely nit picky. Nice guy, good teacher, stupidly hard grader.
this guy doesn't teach, he gives you a basic consept and expects you to figure it out. if you don't do things his way you lose lots of points. also you have to write two papers for a math class. HE IS TERRIBLE AND CAN'T BE OWRKED WITH. IF YOU ASK FOR HELP HE DOESN'T GIVE IT.
This class was not at all what I expected. He expects you to know what you are doing right away, and he doesn't completely finish questions that are brought up in class. If you have never taken calculus before, I wouldn't recommend Will as a teacher.
Hardest grader I have ever had at Grand Valley. Impossible to get a good grade.
He does not explain, and when he tries to it doenst help at all. He expects that everyone is completely ignorant in the subject and at the end of each class you are an expert on it. Basically, is one of the most annoying people that I have met.
The subject material is not too bad and the book is pretty helpful. What I dislike about this class is not the subject material but the Professor. He should have became an English Professor instead but what he cares about most is not whether you have the correct answer, but if you worded it well enough or not. He is very picky with grading.
super anal and annoying. easy to get a good grade, but he does not teach. He just repeats what he knows, withOUT explaining. Expects students to be retarded or a genious. not patient.
Will is a really nice guy and he is not a boring teacher. HOWEVER, he explains things once and then gives you examples and expects you to understand them. When you ask him a question he doesn't just show you how to do it he asks you more questions and expects that to help when it does not. Very picky grader aswell!
Will was my favorite teacher...he requires work but its calculus. As long as you are interested in learning he is willing to help and although class is not mandatory you should try not to skip
Completely impossible. Take another professor or wait a semester for another professor. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. I am a chemistry major, I consider myself decent at math, receiving an A in calc 1 through 3, but this class, with him, is impossible. Avoid him. Don't go near him. Don't speak of him.
Will is a nice guy and knows his stuff, but he grades impossibly hard. I got a 77 on a math test, but 15 points were taken off because I didn't use the specific words in my explanation that he wanted. If you are good at math you will be fine, if not don't take him. Nice guy but not the best teacher
He is a very nice guy but his way of teaching is very different. Everything you do is in groups so I feel like you dont learn as much. tests are hard and he makes you write sentences to make sure you understand the material. I didnt think I would have to do writing for my math class. I did not look forward to going to this class two days a week.
Best math teacher I've ever had. He explains things in a very clear way and is very enthusiastic about the subject and he's always willing to help. The only issue is that he's pretty picky about your wording on test answers. Also, the book is optional.
I was worried going into this class but he is an awesome teacher. He has a lot of worksheets in place of the textbook. He kept my interest so much that you wouldn't even realize you went through multiple sections within one class period. Textbook is used for studying before tests, other than that, not at all. I would definitely take him again
The way Will(he let stu call him WIll) speaks is very logical and clarified. In his class, he will get everybody involved. He gives proper amount of assignment. He is also a very strict grader, but he will also provide useful feedback to help me achieve the perfect score. Overall, you have to study hard for his class. He is a good professor.
He is a nit-picky grader that marks you down for things that don't even pertain to the actual answer. He tries to be funny but really isn't, and doesn't offer help to those who actually need it. I would NOT take his class again and recommend AVOIDING HIM!
He's grading is very hard and he will mark you wrong for things you never knew could be wrong. A question is worth more if you get it wrong than if you had gotten it right. Exams are hard and there is no curve.
Slightly tough grader but if you attend class you can learn a lot as his lectures are informed and very involved. He has his class structured in a way where the course material progresses in a way that makes sense. Gives a decent amount of homework, but it's manageable. I thought he was a pretty good teacher and very easy going.
Will (he lets us call him by his first name) is really an awesome guy. As long as you show up and participate, he understands not everyone is a math person. This guy is VERY smart, and does a really good job at making math easy to understand. Willing to extend homework too if you participate actively and have good reasons for needing an extension.
Will knows his stuff and is very passionate about what he does, which makes you, the student, want to learn more. He gives very good feedback but is a tough grader. One thing that I did not like so much, was that he treats his students like children, and can sound condescending. Overall, a very good professor.
I've always been decent at math, I showed up everyday, I seriously tried, and now I wish I could've picked a different professor. 11/10 wish I would've used this site earlier to avoid this level of insanely hard grading.
You learn a lot in his class purely because you have to study so much for his tests. He's a super hard grader on his papers. Most of what I learned came from high school and the tutoring center. However, he's always willing to help, but he doesn't always forgive mistakes
I did NOT like this professor at all! His lectures are confusing and he will go through a full problem or example in under one minute with no clear explanation of how he got his answers. I turned in an assignment worth 100 points five minutes late because blackboard didn't work and he thought I was making excuses and he gave me a zero for it.
Great Professor. I hadn't taken a calculus class in years, but he was always willing to help. As long as you show a genuine effort and consistently participate in class, he will respect that and work with you to achieve the grade you want. . Also, be sure to use the youtube videos from the Math department because they saved me multiple times.
Will is very passionate about math. He puts a lot of effort into his lectures, but he whisks through them. He's a very tough grader, and if you miss even one class, you will be significantly behind, so don't miss classes. Seeing him during office hours was beneficial because he genuinely cares about his students and wants you to pass. But he's hard
Professor Will was probably one of the worst math teachers i've had in awhile. First, he isn't clear about his subject and never actually answers your questions. My advice would be to test out of this course it was a waste of my time. Also treated our class like he was teaching 2nd graders
he was great. He generally cares about all his students and wants everyone to succeed. there is a lot of group work too to make sure everyone understands it. he teaches very well and teaches multiple methods, so everyone can find one that works for them! i am not good at math, but he has given me confidence in math. show up and you will do great.
He can straight up be extremely rude at times without realizing it. He cares a bit too much on what everyone in the class is doing. Most homework is on what you will learn in the following class after it is due. Very tough grader, might as well be a writing class. If you don't put a lengthy sentence after your answer, it's wrong. Not recommended
I am a math person and love numbers; I'm very good at what I do. I got a D in his class and am now in remedial math at a different university and acing it. Hm. Something doesn't add up.
Will is clear on what he wants you do to do in order to get full credit for assignments and exams. He can be a tough grader if you do not put in complete effort. You get numerous papers (some do not help with the class) and he is very passionate about math. I'm not a fan of math so he made it somewhat decent for me.
Will took a subject that I loved and ruined it. We were required to write several papers in a math class and he is a tough grader on everything. Asking questions didn't help much and going to his office hours didn't either. He made my first semester so stressful and now I even have to take the class over to bring up my GPA.
Professor gives homework every 2-3 days. There is a daily online preview assignment due before the next lecture. If you skip class, you are assigned to the lab, if assigned, on that day by yourself. He also walks around to give everyone a chance to do the problem on the board by themselves. So many homework, papers and not enough time to finish!!!
He goes by Will. I personally thought he was a great prof, but his writing assignments are brutal. You aren't going to get an 11/10, I promise you. The highest I got was a 9 or 10. Lots of homework, and makes you participate, but overall solid guy. Really kind and caring; he helps you a lot if you go see him during his office hours.
Professor Will, as he goes by, is a very tough professor, but this isn't a bad thing. I had to work hard for the grade I got, but I feel that my understanding of calculus is just a bit better because of it. He's extremely helpful and understanding of circumstances. You won't regret taking him as long as you're willing to put in a bit extra effort.
I never had to put in so much work for a math class let alone any class. Theres so many papers and assignments and not enough time to finish considering he only tells you a few days before it is due. On the flip, he is super helpful during office hours, so utilize those to get the grade you want.
From the get go, he expects his students work for the material. He is HONEST and up front about the fact that his teaching style is geared towards Active Learning, and that included in that's a lot of hard work. He TOLD US that active learning feels harder, but you learn more as students. I was shocked that my exam grades were as high as they were
Will really wants you to work super hard in this class, and expects perfection. If you do not have ALL the work to show for your answer you will get points off. He is an extremely hard grader, if you have not taken a calculus class before this I would stay away. There are 10 group projects that are suppose to meet outside of class and a ton of hw.
Will was definitely not my favorite professor but he was not the worst. The hardest thing about him is that he is a very tough grader. Study for your exams because the smallest mistakes will be your downfall. If you attend every class, take notes, and put the effort in, you'll do fine.
Will is super knowledgeable in calculus but he is a really tough grader. His hybrid class didn't have formal exams, but he graded the weekly quizzes super hard which made them hard to pass. He also assigns many writing assignments and labs on top of lectures and weekly HW. He is good at helping 1-on-1 so it's important to visit his office hours.
Worst professor I have ever had! He is the toughest grader ever and expects absolute perfection. I have never had a class with such an abusive workload. Be prepared to spend at least 15 hours a week on homework, labs, quizzes, and pointless mandatory comments. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!
I think Wills a good guy, but hes probably the most annoying grader Ive ever had in any subject. Quizzes are worth 50% which is fine but you either get 100% or a big fat 0% and the most annoying part is he doesnt even correct it, no comments, no red pen, no nothing. When something is worth 50% of my grade I expect a little feedback...
Very tough grader. Its evident how he tries to nail key Calculus concepts into your head. Workload is monumental. Hes a great person and will walk you through it, but will make you think more than anything. I thin thats his main thing is to make you think. Anyways, tons of work and deadlines will hit you in the face if behind. best of luck
Will is a great guy! You have to work very hard in this class. He is very knowledgeable in all subjects of math. The textbook is free but VERY confusing. Going to his office hours is crucial to understanding. This was my favorite class I've taken in the Math Department so far and Will is a great prof.
Dr. Diickinson does a great job of teaching this material. This is one of the first courses where I left truly understanding every bit of material we covered. However, succeeding in this class does not happen without spending 10+ hours a week on homework. Having a good linear algebra background is important to me, and I certainly got in from Will.
He assigns a few assignments a week but nothing too crazy. You will be doing a lot of group projects. He is passionate about what he is teaching. He is a tough grader in ways where you have to be very specific in your answers. Quiz every week. Overall, a good prof though.
William is a great professor. I can see some students struggling with his class because he is a tough grader but he provides feedback when needed and always wants the best for his students. I would for sure take his class again. If you are taking calc 1, I recommend him.
Will's unique teaching style is something most people have never seen before, and I liked it. Every class involves talking with other classmates there is usually a group project & quiz every week. Quiz is graded pass/fail with 3 attempts. If you pass about 90 percent of the quizzes and do decent on group projects, you should get an A
Dr. Dickinson is a very effective and well-spoken professor. He likes it when you show that you are putting effort into his classes by attending office hours, using the math center, and collaborating with other students. However, the course ramps up in difficulty and grading severely in the last month of classes.
Professor Dickinson was good, but I had a few problems for him. I felt that he expected too much of us in class, if you needed him to go over something again, I felt he expected an immediate understanding. Very tough grader on the homework, and he writes a little messy. Don't buy the workbook, it was only $15, but we never used it once.
He will teach you the lesson his way, and his way only, with no time to understand or ask questions. He gives about 25 minutes per quiz and each quiz has about 3-4+ pages to it. He will grade your work and the grade will be 1 of 3 outcomes. Successfully mastered, growing(knows most of the information), and not yet(does not understand information).
Honestly i thought the class was easy. He teaches things in three ways and we had skill quizzes every Thursday. He only gave us 25 minutes for 3-5 pages of story problems. He is insanely picky with grading but if you know what he is looking for you'll be fine He wants us to always talk to the people next to us and we never can do things on our own
Professor Dickinson was very passionate about teaching, though he was a very tough grader and you either pass or fail the quizzes. Quizzes every week. If you want to succeed in this class I would definitely recommend going to math lab and to his office hours. If you struggle with math, this class will probably be hard for you.
you will be dedicating the majority of your weekends to this man and his tests on the weekends
He grades very hard and you either get 100 or 0 on each quiz. The class average for 90% of the class was 60% and half of the class dropped with a W. I would not recommend! I went to several office hours and still didn't recieve that help that I needed.
He is very enthusiastic about Python. He has a very easy grading scale which gives you multiple attempts to learn a coding skill. He really tries to get people to go to office hours if they need help. You work in groups which he switches up every once in a while. Overall he is a great guy and I would love to take him again.
Not a fun class or professor. Entire grade was homework and skill quizzes, so everything was crucial to the grade throughout the semester. He doesn't explain things well, doesn't explain them in different ways, and doesn't bother to stop really if someone doesn't get something. He also got things wrong constantly and couldn't explain them after.
This class was definitely not fun, relatively easy, or enjoyable. Gives a quiz every week that could be up to 5 pages front/back word problems and 30 minutes exactly to finish them, do not recommend for people who struggle with test taking anxieties. He's a very tough grader, I would not recommend for people who struggle with math or test/quizzes!
Dr. D is a phenomenal teacher for calc 2. He really wants you to do well and is always willing to meet to help. He gives great feedback on how to improve. The growth mindset of this class truly motivated me to learn and understand. I attended most classes (missed one) and it always helped me learn. I appreciated Dr. Ds help throughout the semester!
This is not a difficult class. He will mark you down and fail you for assignments for the pettiest reasons. You can completely follow the instructions on a lab, get every single question right, and then get a 50 for not making it exactly how he wants. He also wont tell you what he wants it to look like so good luck!!!
He is not a great professor. Going into this class, I thought he would be nice, but I was wrong. He gives a lot of homework and wants it done in a certain format and style, which is ridiculous. He is also a tough grader on the checkpoint quizzes.
He is not a great professor overall. He is a strict grader. The tests and written Homework affect your grade a lot.
This class was interesting at first, then he will be a tough grader that throws students off the rails. I mean you can get everything right on a written homework and still redo it. The comments on the written homework can seem passive aggressive at times.
There are lots of weekly assignments, but he breaks them into parts which is nice. Lectures are important because that's where it's the easiest to learn if you actually pay attention and do the activities with him. He always tries to help and answer as many questions as he can. He'll also work with your schedule if you can't make office hours.
Professor D is known for his unique teaching style and high standards. The class is challenging but rewarding - staying engaged, using the free textbook, and visiting office hours can really pay off. Unstuck AI and study groups were helpful for test prep.
The lectures for this class are really great, since you are coding along side him its much more engaging and easier to remember. There is a lot of homework, I often lost track of it and forgot to do assignments which was a little frustrating since no late work is accepted. Labs are useful, if you get a partner around the same coding level as you.
This class is horrible
Fabulous teacher that cares deeply about the subject and his students. I loved being able to resubmit projects multiple times after receiving feedback, and getting all the points. The only, and I mean ONLY downside about this professor, is that he is a very tough grader, but he allows infinite resubmits so that is mitigated.
At the beginning of this semester I had a different professor but by spring break I had Dr. D. With my other professor I had a pretty good understanding of what was going on and had an A but when the prof was switched to Dr. D I became super confused and fell behind. I still have a B but it makes me upset that my grade only dropped because of him.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
32%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.99 avg changeRatings by Course
203
5.0
(1)MTH341431
5.0
(1)MTH203
5.0
(1)MATH112
5.0
(1)MATH132
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
201
5.0
MTH302
5.0
CIS231
5.0
MATH201
4.3
CALC1
4.3